Course title:
Genetic and typological linguistics
Course code: PSL206
Course status: Obligatory
Course leader: Ranko Matasović
Course instructor:
Language of instruction: English
Total hours: 4P+4S
Form of instruction: Lecture
ECTS credits: 4
Course content by topics:
- How can languages differ and what do they have in common?; 2. Types of language diversity;
- Branches of comparative linguistics; 4. Genetic linguistics: evidence of language affinity; 5. Typological linguistics : the definition of a language type. The problem of universal definition of language features; 6. The concept of language universals. Types of universals. Implicational universals; 7. Areal linguistics: level of language contacts ; 8. Macroareas and their defining features; 9. Examples of areal distribution of language features according to WALS; 10. Genetic and areal stability of language features
Learning outcomes at course level:
- To name the features of genetic, areal and typological linguistics; 2. To explain and critically evaluate methodology used in comparative linguistics as compared to methodologies used in other linguistic disciplines; 3. To compare similarities and differences between languages with regard to the origin of these similarities and differences (common origin, language contacts, typological universals); 4. To critically evaluate the methodology of the division of languages into groups (language families, language areas and types)
Learning outcomes at programme level:
| IU1 | IU2 | IU3 | IU4 | IU5 | IU6 | IU7 | IU8 |
| x | x | X | x | x |
Reading list:
Ranko Matasović, Uvod u poredbenu lingvistiku, Matica hrvatska, Zagreb 2001.; Martin Haspelmath et alii (eds.) The World Atlas of Language Structures, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2005. (http://wals.info).
Assessment of student achievement: Course attendance and an objective type written exam Quality assurance mechanism: student survey
Studied linguistics and philosophy in the University of Zagreb, where he graduated in 1990. He received his M.A. from the University of Zagreb in 1992 and his Ph. D. thesis from the same university in 1995. His mentor was Radoslav Katičić. In 1996 he became Assistant Professor in that department, in 2000 he became Associate Professor, and in 2004 Full Professor (with tenure since 2009).
He was a guest researcher in the University of Vienna in 1993 (his host was Heiner Eichner) and in Oxford University in 1995 (his host was Anna Morpurgo Davies). He was a Fulbright Fellow in the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in 1997-1998 (his academic host was Andrew Sihler) and a Humboldt Fellow in University of Bonn in 2002-2003 (his host was Stefan Zimmer). In the summer semester of 2008, he was a guest researcher in Leiden University, and in the summer of 2011, he was a guest professor in the University of Georgia at Athens. In the summer semester of 2015 he was a guest of the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig (his host was Martin Haspelmath), and in the winter semester of 2015 he was a guest professor in Heidelberg University. In the summer semester of 2021 he was invited to be a guest professor in Hokkaido University, but his visit had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was a guest researcher in the University of Vienna in 1993 (his host was Heiner Eichner) and in Oxford University in 1995 (his host was Anna Morpurgo Davies). He was a Fulbright Fellow in the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in 1997-1998 (his academic host was Andrew Sihler) and a Humboldt Fellow in University of Bonn in 2002-2003 (his host was Stefan Zimmer). In the summer semester of 2008, he was a guest researcher in Leiden University, and in the summer of 2011, he was a guest professor in the University of Georgia at Athens. In the summer semester of 2015 he was a guest of the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig (his host was Martin Haspelmath), and in the winter semester of 2015 he was a guest professor in Heidelberg University. In the summer semester of 2021 he was invited to be a guest professor in Hokkaido University, but his visit had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.